How to Grow Vegetables From Seeds in Store Bought Vegetables
With the prices of fresh produce continuously skyrocketing, many people are turning to growing their own fresh vegetables. Harvesting seeds from store-bought produce and planting them is a simple step to take to cut the high cost of food. Harvesting and enjoying your own produce is rewarding and wallet-friendly. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Picking and Harvesting Seed
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Pick the best-looking produce available. Look for unblemished vegetables that are fully ripe.
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Cut open the produce and dig or scrape the seeds onto a paper towel or plate. Discard the pulp and lay the seeds onto an old window screen or cheese cloth for air circulation. Some seeds have a slimy coating, wash this away before you allow the seed to dry. Depending on the vegetable, it may take just a few hours to dry or a few days.
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3
Take the dry seeds and plant in a rich potting mixture and place on a sunny windowsill a few weeks before the vegetable's regular planting date. Place a plastic bag or cover over the growing containers to raise the humidity so the seeds can germinate. Allow the seeds to sprout and germinate until 3 inches in height.
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Harden off your seedlings for at least a week before planting outdoors by setting them outside during the day and bringing them in each night. This allows the seedlings to get used to being outdoors in the wind, sun and different types of weather.
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Check with your local weather authority to ensure the last frost has passed. Take the seedlings outside and plant in rich, weedless soil that contains added compost materials such as wood ash, manure or rotted leaves
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Water new plants thoroughly and regularly to ensure good, strong root growth.
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Tips & Warnings
If an unexpected frost is coming, take milk cartons and cut the bottom off and place over the plants with the carton lid off to keep the plant warm.
References
- Photo Credit onions image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
